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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
This anthology of short stories of varying quality was alright, stories were forgettable at worst, mildly charming at best. I wouldn't recommend this as the best intro to Wodehouse. I'm a few pages into My Man Jeeves and it's miles better. High point of the collection is probably The Mixer, a story told from the perspective of a dog.
Wodehouse is always entertaining; these stories are charming and funny with a wide range of settings and characters. The plot lines were a bit repetitive (couple introduced, problem occurs, reconciliation inevitable), making this a good collection to read over time between books instead of all at once.
The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories by PG Wodehouse
First Published in 1917
Short Stories; Humor
4/5 stars
Source: Through Daily Lit
Summary: A collection of stories, including the first appearance in print of the characters Jeeves and Bertie Wooster.
Thoughts: I decided to give this a read because I've never read any Wodehouse and I wanted to try Daily Lit through my google reader. Unfortunately for me, it is not a method that seems to work well. Some days I wouldn't have time to read it so that the next day, I'd have two installments. Other days it seemed like I had forgotten what I had read before. I think I really do better when I have the whole text before me, whether it's an ebook or a real book. That was also part of my problem with audiobooks.
Overall: The stories were pretty easy reads and there were some delightfully funny bits sprinkled throughout. I can't choose a favorite but I can recommend that you give it a try.
First Published in 1917
Short Stories; Humor
4/5 stars
Source: Through Daily Lit
Summary: A collection of stories, including the first appearance in print of the characters Jeeves and Bertie Wooster.
Thoughts: I decided to give this a read because I've never read any Wodehouse and I wanted to try Daily Lit through my google reader. Unfortunately for me, it is not a method that seems to work well. Some days I wouldn't have time to read it so that the next day, I'd have two installments. Other days it seemed like I had forgotten what I had read before. I think I really do better when I have the whole text before me, whether it's an ebook or a real book. That was also part of my problem with audiobooks.
Overall: The stories were pretty easy reads and there were some delightfully funny bits sprinkled throughout. I can't choose a favorite but I can recommend that you give it a try.
Only listened to the Jeeves story, which should be the first, a very enjoyable story with splendid narration by Frederic Davidson.
Somehow, Wodehouse managed to write something like 80 novels and, until I read this collection, I never found that the themes varied from two or three exclusive subject matters. He seemed never to tire of writing comic romps back and forth between Lordly country manor houses and the London flats inhabited by aristocratic dependents, which occasional forays among the working classes of newspapermen and stage performers. In this collection, Wodehouse tackles new subject matter with his characteristic carefree comedy.
The subject matter or romantic mishaps and bamboozled and forlorn homely characters is not too far removed from his typical fare, but almost all of these stories involve working class Americans rather than aristocratic Brits. These stories are a bit more varied in subject matter though they cover a lot of the same ground from his more popular works, leaning more into clever plots than iconic wit.
In many ways, these stories make Wodehouse feel like a natural heir to O. Henry. Maybe not as iconic as he beat novels, but a variety worthy of indulging.
The subject matter or romantic mishaps and bamboozled and forlorn homely characters is not too far removed from his typical fare, but almost all of these stories involve working class Americans rather than aristocratic Brits. These stories are a bit more varied in subject matter though they cover a lot of the same ground from his more popular works, leaning more into clever plots than iconic wit.
In many ways, these stories make Wodehouse feel like a natural heir to O. Henry. Maybe not as iconic as he beat novels, but a variety worthy of indulging.
(2019 Year of Epic Reads Weekly Challenge #29: Read a book you know will make you laugh.)
This contains Bertie's debut story (under the family name of Mannering-Phipps however), as well a medley of other tales. Apart from 'Extricating Young Gussie', I have to say none of them have the same kind of flair as later works by Wodehouse. Still, it makes for an interesting, occasionally funny read. Especially The Mixer, told from...wait for it... a dog's perspective! And the dog does sound a bit like Bertie...
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
Versatile surprise;
First Jeeves story, but Jeeves not
Made the hero yet.
First Jeeves story, but Jeeves not
Made the hero yet.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No